A major winter storm is expected to dump up to two feet of snow this weekend across portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, beginning on Friday, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

A winter storm watch — issued when conditions are favorable for hazardous winter weather — was in effect for Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which were targeted to receive the brunt of the storm.

Baltimore could receive 16 to 18 inches of snow, with isolated amounts of two feet; Washington, 12 to 16 inches with isolated amounts up to 20 inches; and Philadelphia, eight to 12 inches.

A watch provides 12 to 36 hours notice of the possibility of severe weather, according to the weather service.

Winter storm watches also cover most of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, southern New Jersey, eastern West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and western North Carolina. Up to two inches of snow are predicted for Newark, New Jersey, and New York.

Winter storm warnings, indicating that severe weather is almost certain to occur, were issued for the southern and central Appalachians.

In the Southeast, heavy rain Thursday will cause widespread minor flooding and isolated moderate flooding across the region, forecasters said. Flood watches are in effect for southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southeastern Alabama, the central Florida Panhandle and most of Georgia.

(Source: CNN)